December 2008:
No. 296
One of the programs that your Remember that our December program starts at 7 PM with a holiday re-
Audubon chapter supports in the winter freshment party of cookies and drinks. The program will then be Barry Lowe’s
is the Great Backyard Bird Count. This beautiful picture review of birds of this area.
involves members of our chapter mak- Each December in preparation for the Christmas Bird Count, Barry has been
ing presentations on birds to primarily presenting a slide show to review the birds of our area. This year the Bird
Middle School students although some Count, the great citizen science count that has been going for over a century, is
elementary schools are involved. The on Saturday, December 13. In this refresher, Barry reviews important bird field
presentations are approximately 30 min- marks.
utes long and consist of showing slides Barry reminds us that while we experience great pleasure all year long in
on 20 to 30 birds commonly seen in our seeing birds, surely we can step up and devote one day to the birds in participat-
area in the winter and telling the students ing in this important count. The individual birds we see during the year may
how they can participate in the count excite us, but the bird count each December is a major source of information for
tracking bird trends and bird environment. You are each needed in this count!
and why it is important. The volunteers
Participation in counting the birds is fun, involves fellowship and sharpens
work in teams of two and are provided learning. SIGN UP PLEASE!
an outline and the slides (we are graduat-
Once again, come on December 9 to the Seabrook to this popular program.
ing to Powerpoint). The only thing that
Come WITH A FRIEND AND BE SURE TO COME AT 7 PM to enjoy the
limits how many students we reach is holiday social followed by Barry’s great program.
the numbers of volunteer presenters we
PS Barry asks again, “Who wants to be the Christmas Bird Count Coordinator
have. The more we have the more stu-
in the future?” Or at least, who will step up and volunteer to assist him in the
dents we can reach. Our program fits in coordination and see if they will assume that responsibility later?
to the Science Curriculum in the schools
and tries to show how the birds fit in the
environment and how our conduct can ANNUAL 2009 BIRD SEED SALE NEEDS HELP!
impact their survival. If you can help,
please contact Ken Neitzke at 705-3970. Our annual money-raising bird seed sale starting January 2, 2009, needs
Any one who has participated has thor- HELP! We need more members and friends to be purchasers. The cost of
bird seeds has gone up quite noticeably, and the number of buyers has gone
oughly enjoyed the experience.
down. Our historic sales has been to 60-70 buyers, but last year we had only
The annual Christmas Bird count is 49 buyers of 310 bags, whereas in 2007 we had 69 buyers of 328 bags of seed.
on December 13, 2009 and is an oppor- So, every bag (whether 5# or 20#) counts! A substantial portion of the pur-
tunity for us as citizen scientists to make chases comes to our chapter to help support our Audubon Adventures school
a significant contribution to defining the education program, which is continuing to grow. We now have about 550
health of our bird population. Please Audubon memberships, with probably 90% feeding their birds. Thus, if every
donate some of your time to help our bird-feeding member bought just one bag, we would sell about 500 bags, and
birds. if they all bought two bags we would sell about 1000 bags!!
See you at the meetings and bring So PLEASE, order your year’s supply if possible, but if not, please get one
a friend. or two bags for sure, and lets’s fully fund the Audubon Adventures program
for our schools.
HHI Audubon CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - Saturday, December 13, 2008
Board of Directors:
President
Bill Nicol 671-4721
The Bird Count is HERE!
Vice President In less than two weeks we will all be out counting the birds in our area,
Ken Neitzke 705-3970 both species and numbers. I hope that every member has resolved to rise
Treasurer
Karen McGinty 681-8498 and give ONE DAY out of the whole year to an exercise that will benefit
Fran Baer 686-6348 the declining birds, while at the same time, provide you with a wonderful
Recording Secretary
Steve White 837-4597 day in the out-of -doors, enjoying the fellowship of other birders. At the
Corresponding Secretary end of the day you will feel the satisfaction and gratification that comes
Sherman Barker 342-6596
Members‑at‑Large with participation and giving.
Howard Costa 842-9447
Jim Currie 681-8525
Marianne Currie 681-8525 Don't miss this opportunity. If you counted last year, then join your team
Clem Dietze 837-2612 again. If you missed last year, call me at 671-3537 and I will connect you
Barry Lowes 671-3537
Nan Lloyd 363-2092 with an area of your choosing. Let's make it the best Bird Count ever. No
Betty Walter 842-7147
Joan Wilson 837-2874 excuses - just come with us and do it.
Committee Chairpersons: BARRY LOWES, Coordinator.
Adopt-A-Refuge (Pinckney)
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Karen McGinty 681-8498
Audubon Newhall Preserve OUR TRIP TO COSTA RICA.
Joan Shulman 842-9246
Bird Walks/Field Trips Some of you may know that Audubon member and Coastal Discovery Museum
Kay Hodnett Director, Carlos Chacon and Lowcountry Institute Director, Chris Marsh take 12
Bird House Construction people to Costa Rica every year. Essentially, it is a “Master Naturalist” style trip to
Jim Collins 671-1240
Bird Seed Sale explore the rain forest. Carlos is very knowledgeable about all aspects of the natural
Ed Nash 681-5725 history of Costa Rica, but is especially passionate about plants, ants and birds. Chris
Christmas Bird Count is a marine biologist who is an avid, expert birder who also loves geology. Even our
Barry Lowes 671‑3537
Education driver Ricardo was an excellent birder!
Mary Jane Major 342-5804
Historian
The ten day adventure from August 28th to Sept 7th took advantage of the green
OPEN sea turtle nesting season at Torteguero and the dry season on the Caribbean side.
Hospitality What a trip! We had first hand views of plate tectonics in action - seeing and hearing
Thea Luba 785-3214 the Arenal Volcano erupt! Every morning we woke up with the birds! (sometimes
Legislation
Kay Hodnett 342-7485 with a rooster call). The group took a canopy walk at Arenal Hanging Bridges; a cor-
Membership ridor followed by birds migrating between North and South America. These trails
Thea Luba 785-3214 and bridges brought us close to the birds, flowers and lush vegetation of the primary
Newsletter Circulation
Marianne Currie 681-8525 rainforest. We had three excellent scopes and our binoculars ready.
Newsletter Editor
At Waterfall Gardens we walked through a hummingbird garden, a butterfly garden
Joan Wilson 837-2874 and a trail with six impressive waterfalls. We drove to La Selva Biological Station known
Programs as (OTS) The Organization for Tropical Studies. Within La Selva, we experienced virgin
Charlotte White 837-4597
forest, secondary forest at different stages of growth, lowland rivers and swamps.
Publicity & Public Relations
Clem Dietze 837-2612 On day six we boarded a boat to the Mawamba Lodge in Tortuguero. We took a
Sales Table
OPEN 686-6406 guided night walk on the beach to see the nesting sites of the green sea turtles. (Carlos
Shorebirds/Conservation is very active in the protection of loggerhead turtles who nest on Hilton Head Island.)
Howard Costa 842-9447
Special Projects In the mountain trails around Savegre Lodge over 170 bird species have been ob-
Richard Shulman 842-9246 served. Throughout the trip someone would yell out “Stop the Bus” and we’d all pile
Sun City Representative out while Carlos, Chris and Ricardo adjusted the scopes. Here are our pictures of the
Kevin Cahill 705-3570
Wetlands/Conservation resplendent Quetzals, male and female!
Sally Krebs H: 757-2973 O: 341-4690
When we returned home, Carlos and Chris emailed us a list of birds, frogs and
Website: www.hiltonheadaudubon.org
toads, cocodillians, and turtles we saw (and where we saw them). If you are interested,
The Ecobon is a monthly publication (September through May) of
the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society. Subscription is a benefit
Doug and I would be happy to share our photos. What was the most surprising thing?
of membership. Direct inquiries to P.O. Box 6185, Hilton Head
Island, South Carolina 29938 or call one of the above officers
We didn’t get a single mosquito bite until we got back to Hilton Head.
or chairpersons.
--- REMINDER --- Thanks to all whom enthusiastically reported your sight-
ings: Kay Hodnett, Doris Stoner, Doris McCullough, Howard
SCHOOL PROGRAM SPEAKERS AND
Costa, Dottie Bass, Karen McGinty, John Crawshaw, Richard
COMMITTEE PERSONS
Shulman, Annette Houseman, Wendy Hansen, several visitors,
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
et al.
Our next meetings:
To report a rare, uncommon or first-of-the-season (FOTS)
JAN. 5th. @ 9:30 am. Visitor Center, bird sighting in our area, please e-mail: JackColcolough@
(next to Crazy Crab Restaurant)
aol.com, call at 689-3455 or send a blank e-mail to: Birding-
AGENDA:
Friends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join the group and
• Learning Powerpoint
• Time and date for schools report your sighting.
• Bring your Volunteer Application (Background Check)
FEB 2nd @ 9:30 A.M. Visitor Center,
(next to Crazy Crab Restaurant)
AGENDA:
• Finalize - Speakers, Time and dates In Memoriam
IF ANY MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER Jean Williams
TO BE A SPEAKER OR COMMITTEE PERSON,
PLEASE CONTACT ME ~ a long time supporter of our Audubon chapter.
PH. 843-705-3970 E-MAIL: kenjeanschh@hargray.com
THANK YOU, KENNY NEITZKE, V.P.
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190 Pembroke Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 190(PDLOQDQG#KDUJUD\FRP
Pembroke Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
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December 2008 Page 5
296 Issue #:
Hilton Head, South Carolina 29938
P.O. Box 6185
Hilton Head Island Audubon Society Organization:
Monthly Sept.-May Frequency:
December 2008 Issue Date:
Permit #39
Title: Ecobon
Hilton Head Island, SC
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29938
Non Profit Organization
P. O. Box 6185
Ecobon